Example Questions from Germany

1.a.Do you plan to promote the use of Free Software? If so, how will
you do this?

1.b.Do you plan to promote the interests of small and medium sized
Free Software companies; and so, how?

2. Non-Free Software is only modifiable with the
permission of its owner. This restriction had led to service monopolies and
vendor lock-in in both the public and private sector. Do you plan to act
against existing service monopolies of this nature?

3.a. Strict adherence to Open Standards in public sector
ICT enables fairer competition amongst tenderers. Do you agree with the
Free Software Foundation Europe's Definition of Open Standards?

3.b. Will you work to achieve strict adherence to Open Standards in
the public sector? If so, how do you plan to do this?

4.a. Is your party planing to promote the usage of Free Software in
state education?

4.b. Does your party intend to promote the teaching of transferable
ICT skills, rather than product or vendor specific knowledge?

5. Many public sector organisations advertise non-Free
Software on their websites, such as promotions for 'Adobe Reader'.
What is your opinion on this kind of advertising, and do you have any plans
concerning it?

6.a. In Germany software is covered by copyright law and,
like literature, is therefore unpatentable. Nevertheless, patents on
software continue to be granted by patent offices. The technology
monopolies that these patents result in lead to legal uncertainty for
software companies and hamper innovation in all European companies. What
is your position on software patents?

6.b. How will you prevent them from threatening the growth of Germany's
economy?